NJ's pigskin-picking camel dies before Super Bowl

FILE - In a Thursday Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Princess, left, a Bactrian camel famous for her ability to correctly predict the winner of football games, stands with John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, N.J. Princess was euthanized Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 after arthr

The Associated Press

FILE - In a Thursday Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Princess, left, a Bactrian camel famous for her ability to correctly predict the winner of football games, stands with John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, N.J. Princess was euthanized Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 after arthritis made it impossible for the 26-year-old animal to stand, said Bergmann, just weeks before the state is set to host its first Super Bowl. Princess correctly picked the Baltimore Ravens in last year's Super Bowl. Her best run came in the 2008 season, when she picked 17 of 22 games correctly, including the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLIII. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

FILE - In a Thursday Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Princess, left, a Bactrian camel famous for her ability to correctly predict the winner of football games, stands with John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, N.J. Princess was euthanized Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 after arthritis made it impossible for the 26-year-old animal to stand, said Bergmann, just weeks before the state is set to host its first Super Bowl. Princess correctly picked the Baltimore Ravens in last year's Super Bowl. Her best run came in the 2008 season, when she picked 17 of 22 games correctly, including the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLIII. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File) (The Associated Press)

Associated Press

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's pigskin-prognosticating camel has died just weeks before the state is set to host its first Super Bowl.

Princess was a fixture at the Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township for 10 years and gained fame for picking winners.

Zoo manager John Bergmann tells the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/1av4tRs ) the 26-year-old Bactrian camel was euthanized after arthritis made it impossible for her to stand.

Princess' made her picks with graham crackers. Bergmann would hold one in each hand, marked with the names of the competing teams. Whichever hand she chose was her prediction.

Princess correctly picked the Baltimore Ravens in last year's Super Bowl. Her best run came in the 2008 season, when she picked 17 of 22 games correctly, including the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLIII.